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Senate Democrats Edge Closer to Government Funding Compromise
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, representing New York, announced on Thursday evening his decision to support a measure to prevent a government shutdown, although he expressed considerable dissatisfaction with the plan.
“While the proposal for a continuing resolution is deeply flawed, the ramifications of a government shutdown would have much graver consequences for our nation,” Schumer stated during a speech on the Senate floor.
This marks a shift in Schumer’s stance compared to his comments made on Wednesday when he indicated that Democrats would not back the House-passed funding measure, which is designed to provide stopgap funding. The senator advocated for a “clean” bill that would sustain current spending levels for an additional 30 days, aimed at facilitating bipartisan discussions.
Earlier this week, House Republicans succeeded in passing legislation primarily along party lines that retains current funding levels for the remainder of the fiscal year. However, if the Senate fails to either pass this bill or negotiate an alternative arrangement, the federal government could begin to shut down after Friday.
The prospects for securing enough Senate Democratic votes to overcome the 60-vote threshold required for the continuing resolution remain uncertain, making it necessary for Schumer to rally support among his colleagues.
Some Democrats are positioning themselves to leverage the looming shutdown as an opportunity to counteract budget cuts proposed by figures such as Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. Schumer cautioned that a shutdown might provide an avenue for individuals like Trump and Musk to dismantle federal programs and impose furloughs on employees without assurances of their eventual reinstatement.
The federal government has been functioning under a continuing resolution since the conclusion of the last fiscal year on September 30.
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